Are self employed also entitled to claim a lot of these expenses and use family members as admin.
The system is proven to be fair if this is the case. Croydon could confirm this as I beleive he is self employed. What you dont or cannot claim must be the same for all.

Parliament don't 'vote themselves' pay rises - it's decided by an independent commission how much their increase should be.

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I know you can claim lots of expenses, though working a cab isn"t that good as it"s mainly taxi stuff, new tyres etc, all you really get as a taxi driver is a free car- as you would have had to buy one if you didn"t have your taxi, if you need wheels obvs! But i can add i have worked in parliament in building game and have seen these mp"s in the bar-restaurant, and you realise they have a lot more in common with each other than they do us! With the exception of a few who really believe in their cause, whether on the left or right, the rest are all on the career gravy train and get along great in the bars!Makes you wonder why we get bitchy on here, most mp"s are just earning a great living with expenses thrown in, they don"t take it to seriously, so why should we?

Lets not give our mp"s a pay rise- lets clap for them instead!

I admire my MP

It's a bit grown up though isn't it? In the end you can't agree with everyone on everything but probably can't disagree with anyone on everything either. So you find ways to rub along socially whilst disagreeing politically. Alcohol can help that process.

The bars have always appeared to me to be subsidised which is plain wrong. OK, clubs don't charge what pubs charge but even a working men's/conservative club isn't as cheap as parliament, despite being in a less splendid location to put it mildly.